WIP Wednesday:: My Home Management Guide

(the above picture has nothing to do with this post, but it was just so pretty I wanted to share!)

Lately things around here have gotten...well, chaotic. In the untidy sense! I hate it when the house gets like this (which lately has been most of the time), but always feel at a loss for what to do about it. I have toyed with the idea of a home binder before (FLYlady calls them control journals) but have never really taken the time to pull together even the basic steps. Mostly because I wasn't sure what they were! Enter this wonderful blog: Want What You Have, particularly This section. My friend shared the link with me and I've been working slowly but surely on it since that night. I have a long way to go, but I think that with the daily schedule and cleaning lists in place I have enough to start putting it into action! So I thought I'd give you a little peak inside what I'm working on... pictures should all be clickable if you want to read what I have.

For starters, my binder is a 3" wide Avery conference D-ring binder, with a one hand ring opener, front and back interior pockets and clear vinyl pockets on the outside. (sounds like a car, huh?)

(the section papers I have are from a system called the Maidservant, I never could get going with this one, but I do love the pages! The booklet that comes with it is helpful too) My first section is "Prayer", but right now it only has a layout of what to read each day to complete the Bible in a year. So I'll show that later when it's more useful. Today is about the "Cleaning" section.

Let me start by saying that I think the key to this thing working is the pretty paper. I got mine at Staples, and for about $14.00 I got 200 sheets and I L-O-V-E it! Opening up to see this really makes a big difference! I put all of my pages into clear page protectors, so they stay nice and neat and tidy. (And if I have changes to make I can either stick a tabby with my notes right onto it, or just write it on with a dry erase marker to be wiped off later.) Okay, where was I....

First I have our new daily schedule. New. Like, I just finished it. We start tomorrow, trying for a half day, and the after dinner part, we'll work our way up from there! It's simple and straight forward, and takes the thinking out of my day. Because really, I'm terribly scatter brained these days and I just can't count on my brain to be there when I need it!

Then I have my day-of-the-week jobs. When you're making up your lists, she actually has you make your daily tasks list first, (which I did) but for a two page layout, I liked having this next. A simple break down of what has to happen each day of the week to avoid a really big cleaning day. That works for some people I realize, but with two small children each day is too much of a variable to be able to say "Friday I scrub my whole house", where as I can plan an hour or two's worth of work and spread it out as I can over the day.

Flip the page and you will see my Daily Tasks. These are those jobs that absolutely must happen or you will be embarrassed to open the door all the way type things. Bare bones, "get these things done and you will be able to sleep at night" type things. I have planned 40 minutes in the morning, and 40 minutes in the afternoon, along with a few reminders of things I should be doing throughout the day.

Thursday is my Kitchen Deep cleaning day, so here I have all of my tasks listed out for that day.

Almost every day, in addition to the day-of-the-week jobs, I have a spot for one monthly/quarterly or bi-annual job. I can just choose which one I feel like doing/have the time for (etc.) and knock it off of my list so that I don't have to have just one giant day to take care of them all. An exciting idea, don't you think?

Now, this isn't in my binder, but it is helpful to me. I have another copy of my daily schedule printed up and in a clear page protector on my fridge. This allows for quick referencing, and serves as a visual reminder to stay on target throughout the day. (Jenny was thrilled that she got a piece of special paper lol)

And this little $5.00 magnetic white board is the best marriage tool ever! Joe likes me to just write what I need him to do/have on his radar down, but we were always loosing the list and it just wasn't working well. Neither was me "reminding" him. So this is great. :) I found it and the day of the week magnets at WalMart. I just jot down what I need him to do that day (a big job on the weekend or something like that), and when he gets home from work he checks it and most days he can get right to it. I don't have to remember (or forget) anything and he doesn't have to be "reminded" whenever I see him. ;)

Look out for some finished project posts coming soon!

A little bit of progress...

3 more place-mats to go! It's a simple everyday set, I decided to for-go the lace and did a bit of zig-zag instead, I have no idea what is the standard size, but I cut these at about 16x20 and they are just right for my (slightly large) plates. They are reversible with one layer of cotton quilt batting in between the layers. The napkins are approx. 14" square, and I love that they are pretty from both sides. :) I have tons more of the blue so I'm going to make the blue place-mat set with the same fabric.

A little bit at a time

That's my motto right now. I've been struggling the past few months with our family having seemingly endless rotations through flus, colds, viruses, and all things stuffy, which has led to A-LOT of backed up housework, and a complete stand still with anything even remotely under the umbrella of "creativity". Giving up buying yarn for Lent didn't help with that much, although I did take advantage of the break in incoming yarn to organize what I already had. However over the last few weeks I have been making progress, most of the rooms in my house are allot better than they were a few weeks before that, and I'm continuing to make forward progress there. Dishes are getting done more regularly (although it's only about once a day, it's still an improvement!), what toys we've kept are getting picked up at least twice a day, and bags of donations are still being filled and dropped off.

^ Right Now v

Establishing simplicity and order in our home is my first goal, it's not really very fun, but it is rewarding to see more and more clear, clean surfaces, and my kids (and husband!) are really happy about this new arrangement. Next I will be focusing on our daily and weekly rhythms, which I expect to be much more fun. I want to start documenting my goals and progress here, partly for a bit of accountability, maybe to inspire someone else, and certainly to look back on later and enjoy. So here are my goals for April...

April

Paint hallway & foyer

Finish painting in Jenny's room

Re-paint markered wall in Anthony's room (nothing else worked so that's just going to have to happen lol)

Finish decorating Jenny's room

Plan our garden

Sew a selection of place mats and napkins

Set up back porch for Spring and Summer (involves mending the screen in several places as it is a screened in porch)

There are about a million other things that I want to work on too, but these are the Big Things, I have to do about two things a week to get it done, but that will be a good rate I think. I have next weekend cleared for painting, so that will cover three of the things right there. And some of the things (making place mats & napkins) will be so much fun they wont feel like chores at all. I leave you with a yummy picture, recipe will be coming tomorrow!

Fun project...

I know that this is a dreadful photo, but I had to share my find right away! I am working in my kitchen this month, which means restocking the necessary linens. I have some how made it nearly five years with just one pair of potholders. They (at best) look well loved. So I've been spending some of my nursing time browsing ravelry for a good pattern. The criteria was; cute, thick, made with already-in-my-stash cotton yarn. I found this pattern and I l-o-v-e it! (Rav link here) The one picture above is for a swap I'm in, made as a tester. It's so cute, and so very quick that I'm having fun making them for my own kitchen now. I have an ample stash of cotton "peaches and cream" yarn that I'm trying to use up so restocking my pot holders and washcloths is perfect timing wise. I will share better pictures soon; I want to finish my current work in my kitchen and then take you on a little tour. :)

Okay, back to browsing ideas for place-mats.....so far I like the ideas of this one and this one (etsy links). I'm working on the atmosphere of our meals, and I thought that a variety of place-mats would be a fun way of doing that!

It's that time of year...

You know, when you've been running the heat for a few months, and the air is dry. The last few weeks here have been crazy, it feels like we're drinking water constantly (I drink my entire water bottle at night and wake up thirsty!), dry skin, static-y hair, you know the drill. In addition to a humidifier in one of the bedrooms (at one end of the house), I've been running my stove top potpourri from sun up 'til bedtime. Not only does it help get water into the air, but it smells lovely too (even Anthony says so!). Unfortunately it doesn't exactly photograph well, but that's okay. It's pretty flexible, I've listed the whole "recipe", but I've been known to skip the apples, use orange essential oils, and lemon juice. ;)

Stove Top Potpourri

Into a 2qt. sauce pan place, one sliced lemon (or generous splash of lemon juice), peals of about two oranges (or about 8 drops of essential oil), and either apple peals and cores or you can use up those "dead" (but not rotten or moldy) apples, just chunk up- core and all- and toss in (Granny Smith looks especially pretty), then you want to add some cloves, some cinnamon, and I like to add some nutmeg and allspice too, but that's up to what you like. Whole cloves or ground are fine (check your local bulk food store for these, since they tend to be way WAY cheaper there), and you can use ground cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks that have been broken up. Fill pan to about 3/4" from the top with water once everything is in the pan and put onto a back burner at about a "4", or just onto the low side of medium. Once it starts boiling keep an eye on it, and add water throughout the day. You will need to refresh the spices every 24 hours or so, but you can just add to what you've got for about a week at a time. Just continue to add fruit peals or whatever as you notice the scents weakening. Just don't forget to watch it, you don't want to loose a pan! I find I have to add to mine every hour and a half or so. I have added a note to my front door to remind myself to turn it off before we leave, since it's so easy to just get used to it when you have it going for days. Tinker with it, make it smell like you would like, and enjoy!

ETA~ I have all sorts of knitting to show you, but I haven't had the chance to get any pictures yet; hopefully today! So I think you'll be getting to see some FO's (finished objects, as opposed to UFO's, which would be un-finished objects) for WIP Wednesday!

Menu Plan:: November 6-19

I'm trying to use what we have in the freezer and pantry this time so that I can do a bit of fabric shopping. (Those of you have seen my sewing room please stop laughing, I need a few things for my wardrobe!!) So without further ado...

All breakfasts: Fried egg sandwiches (two pieces toast, 1 fried egg, 1 piece bacon)

Morning snack: Doodles- "mix up", Mommy- yogurt

Lunches: Vegetable soup with pepperoni rolls (the Doodles might just eat the rolls)

After nap snack: Doodles- Applesauce and muffin, Mommy- Trail mix

Dinners:

Friday- Homemade mac'n'cheese, green beans

Saturday- Homemade pizza (family night)

Sunday- Crockpot roast, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes and pie for dessert (have to choose a kind!)

Monday- Lasagna, salad, and garlic bread

Tuesday- Chicken pot pie

Wednesday- Pancake night (at my sister-in-law's--I bring eggs and or bacon)

Thursday- Leftover night/or PB&J (Joe almost always works late Thursday, so I like to keep it easy)

This time I'm trying a new way of writing this out. I normally just put it in my notebook, but this week I'm also trying writing each day out and posting it on my fridge. I think it will help things go smoother to have it right there in front of me! What's on your menu?

A Fresh Start

I would like to start by saying that I am writing this while wearing not only socks, but a sweatshirt! And my fingers are still cold! Yes, fall is finally here. :) I am so excited to start our new schedule and routines on Monday! I know that we wont hit 100% the first day, or maybe even the first week, but I am excited to have a goal to be working toward. :) My big goal is to make sure that my bedtime is firmly in place so that *hopefully* by the end of the week I'll be getting up at 5:30, and getting some coffee/prayer/quiet time before the day starts! I know it sounds super early, and it might be pushed back to 6:00, but Anthony is up by 6:30 most days, so in order to beat him out of bed I have to really get up early... I am hoping to have lights out by about 9:30 though, so that is still a good night's sleep. Well, there will be more to come on all of our schedules later, tonight I just wanted to share some recent finished projects. :) Oh, and also, please notice that I added the subscription option over in the right hand side bar, as well as a "search" feature. I hope that makes your blog reading a bit easier!

This is just a little pocket-sized heart. The pattern is available Here, if any of you would like to knit one. I simply love it! This one is for a friend of mine, for those days when you just need something small to hold. I think we all know those days sometimes. (Raveled HERE)

This is a flannel blanket I made for my sister-in-law Heather, who's baby shower I hosted this afternoon. It is two sides of flannel, with a satin binding. (I hope to make a tutorial for these soon, they are just the best blankets, and are SO super easy!) I also made a matching boppy (nursing pillow) cover, out of the ladybug flannel, with red piping, but I didn't get a very good picture of that.

This little love is my gift for my soon-to-arrive niece, Noelle. I had so much fun knitting him (he is my first knit toy!) and I think he turned out rather well. The variegated yarn is a lovely wool, and the pink arms and head are an acrylic/bamboo blend. He feels SO good to squeeze!

A close up of the face. I embroidered the face in the same yarn I used for his bow; it's Debbie Bliss baby alpaca in a lovely cranberry color. :) For the eyes I just used brown felt.

(Raveled HERE but you do have to have a Ravelry account to see it)

Homemaker's Creed

Originally posted over at Laura's blog, Quietude; this was so beautiful I had to share!

HOMEMAKERS CREED

I BELIEVE

homemaking is a noble and challenging career.

I BELIEVE

homemaking is an art requiring many different skills.

I BELIEVE

homemaking requires the best of my efforts, my abilities, and my thinking.

I BELIEVE

home reflects the spirit of the homemaker.

I found this while reading my blog list this morning. Originially posted on Quietude, I wanted to share it here!

I BELIEVE

home should be a place of peace, joy, and contentment.

I BELIEVE

no task is too humble that will contribute to the cleanliness, the order, the health, the well-being of the household.

I BELIEVE

a homemaker must be true to the highest ideals of love, loyalty, service, and religion.

I BELIEVE

home must be an influence for good in the neighborhood, the community, the country.